Fever in childbirth/ soon after

[strawberrycake]

As I went in labour at home the night before my induction I began vomiting, I went in as planned in the am and the vomiting got worse and I was found to have a fever. It climbed until IV anti-biotics/ paracetamol stabilised it (still high) and I was very feverish and vomiting for the length of labour. The fever reduced after the next 24 hours and after 3 days I went home with oral anti-biotics.

I'm looking for answers really. Does anyone know the causes of this? I do know that when they went to induce me there were no waters (don't know when this went, maybe they trickled, I was 40+13). What are the dangers? Baby was fine. I plan to talk to the midwife when I see her, but the main part of my labour was a bit of a blur at points with lots of people checking and trying to explain things I missed when I was out of it. At points the vomiting and stomach pain hurt more than the contractions. I'm trying to fill in a few gaps and find anyone else who had a similar experience.

Don't you think it could just be a coincidence -- I mean, pregnant women get nasty viruses and tummy bugs like anyone else.
I end up vomitting if I also have a high fever, nowadays.

Glad the baby was fine, sounds like the antiBs prevented anything passing to him/her.

May be you have stomach flu? Nothing to worry about!

Hi

If you were given antibiotics, you may have had a bacterial infection.

I contracted a GAS bacterial infection following the birth of my second child. I put my flu like symptoms down to "just having given birth" and ignored them for 3 days. Eventually, i collapsed at home and spent the next 2 weeks in intensive care. I nearly died.

While my experience is rare, women still die from these infections every year. I had a completely normal pregnancy and birth and thought i was home and dry when i held my baby in my arms.

Fever both during and after childbirth can indicate a serious problem and should not be ignored. Always mention any concerns to your midwife or if you are unable to contact them, see a doctor straight away, don't wait for your next midwife visit.

There is a very informative website, jessicastrust.org.uk, where you can find out more information about symptoms etc.

Glad to hear you are better now and at home and enjoying your new baby.